5 Ways To Be A Responsible Tourist On A Road Trip
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Who else here has dreamed about traveling throughout this long pandemic? With the world opening up, lots of us are finally planning trips again. This brings up a conversation I think we should have more often: how to travel ethically. When we visit new places, it’s as important to leave as small a footprint as possible there as it is at home. Unfortunately, it can be easy to produce more waste than we need to on the road, especially when we’re not prepared, and ultimately it doesn’t feel good to leave a place knowing that.
That’s why today, I’m sharing 5 ways to be a conscious visitor when you go on a road trip. Wherever you go, go with respect — that’s my philosophy — and travelling as low waste as possible is a huge sign of respect! We’re never going to be perfect, but with some research, care and practice we can go far.
1. Reduce, reuse, recycle!
What sort of compost, recycling and garbage systems are in the place you’re visiting? What is available in your accommodations? If you’re staying somewhere that doesn’t compost, bring an old plastic bag or a large container with a lid, collect organics in it while you’re there (tip: store it in the freezer!) and bring it home with you to compost. The goal is always to leave little to no trace.
2. Plan ahead
You can reduce your recycling by planning your meals in advance. Go through your kitchen and bring rice, noodles and other dry foods to use while cooking on vacation. If you have your pantry goods stored in jars and containers (my recommendation!), bring those, but even if you just bring what you already have from the grocery store, that saves you money and additional waste. Bonus: prep some meals at home to bring with you on your trip!
3. Do your research
Research local shops in the area you’re visiting and put your money into the local economy. It’s so important to consider how a community lives and how you can support them. Friendly reminder to support the ma and pa shops! <3 Check out local restaurants, cafes, grocery stores, boutiques…and I ALWAYS look to see if there’s a farmers market happening in the area, too! It’s a lovely way to get to know a place. Don’t forget to bring your own reusable bag — click here to see my favourite!
4. Caffeinate consciously
Are you a coffee drinker? What sort of coffee machine is available in your accommodations? If there’s a regular coffee maker that doesn’t use filters, bring your own reusable filter. If they have a coffee machine that produces a lot of waste (so common in hotel!), bring your own portable coffee maker like a French press or Aeropress as well as your fav coffee grounds. It feels so good to make coffee your way on holiday!
5. Bring 👏 those 👏 reusables 👏
Reusables are essential at home and on the road! They allow us to reduce our waste wherever we go, so don’t leave them behind when travelling. To go cutlery, cloth napkins, reusable coffee cups and water bottles...the list goes on! These are just a few essentials I strongly suggest you pick up if you haven’t yet (you can get some more inspiration in my shop!). You’ll have a much lower environmental footprint with these. Wahoo!
Did you enjoy this blog? Comment below or DM me on Instagram to let me know! It’s so helpful to have your feedback so that I can make sure to create content that’s enjoyable and valuable for you. :) I love to travel, so I’m happy to share more tips if you’re interested! For now, happy travelling, and stay tuned for more blogs!
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